Storyboard:

Title:

1954 - The Island: Bombing of Bikini Atoll

Rights-Managed,
Editorial

Location and time:

Marshall Islands, Bikini, Pacific Ocean, 01-03-1954

Description:

Bikini Atoll (also known as Pikinni Atoll) is an uninhabited 6 sqm atoll in one of the Micronesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the Marshall Islands. It consists of 36 islands surrounding a 594.2 sqm lagoon. It was the test site for more than 20 hydrogen and atomic bombs detonations between 1946 and 1958. On March 1st, 1954, officials announced that an American hydrogen bomb test had been conducted on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Preceding the nuclear tests, the indigenous population was relocated to Rongerik Atoll. For examination of the fallout, several Loki and Asp rockets were launched at 11°35” N 165°20” E. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, some of the original islanders returned from Kili Island but were removed because of the high radioactivity. Bikini Atoll is also the source of the name of the Bikini swimsuit, but it should be noted that the name of the atoll is pronounced with stress on the first syllable.

Sound Bite and conversation:

York, Herbert

(Nuclear scientist) , speaking English: - "That time it looked like we are on the way of the third world war. Many people had that strange feeling. It must to be arrested. "

Teller, Edward

(The inventor of the H-bomb
) , speaking German: - "I was concerned if something is possible than it is going to be realized. The question is just that: who will do that? For me it seemed incomparably better if it all happen in the US "

Matayoshi, Almira

(Born on Bikini) , speaking Marshallese: - "That time we all lived together, my parents, my grandparents. We were never hungry. We had everything and lived a harmony. "

Owerstreet, Warren

(soldier on Bikini) , speaking English: - "We have not known more about the radiation than about the sunray. They told us we will be saved, it wont be a problem, we should just follow the instructions And we were young and naive/silly enough to do that… "

York, Herbert

(Nuclear scientist) , speaking English: - "It was one of the most impressive moments of my life. A thought run through my mind: yes, that’s it, it should be done like this and that the history turned into a new direction. "

Teller, Edward

(The inventor of the H-bomb
) , speaking German: - "I telegraphed urgently to Los Alamos, however I should not have done it. The Hydrogen bomb works – and it is a secret. The whole text of the telegraph was: “Our son was born!”"

Tamayose, Chiyoko

(Born on Bikini) , speaking Marshallese: - "We felt we are helpless. We did not have any equipment , neither power to arrest "

Owerstreet, Warren

(soldier on Bikini) , speaking English: - "It was like the sun would have rose on the West- it seemed for us.
The only thing rose high was a flash but it was not rising like the sun but more like a ball lightening."

Matayoshi, Almira

(Born on Bikini) , speaking Marshallese: - "It was a hue explosion. When we heard it we were convinced that it destroyed the whole Rongelap island
"

York, Herbert

(Nuclear scientist) , speaking English: - "They explained that actually they are making efforts keep peace. Few accidents are inevitable in such situations, even if they are so sad "

Matayoshi, Almira

(Born on Bikini) , speaking Marshallese: - "My first child was born without backbone. He was absolutely soft. He was born dead. "

Owerstreet, Warren

(soldier on Bikini) , speaking English: - "Even so we were guinea pigs. It was said if in the following 40 years we won’t come down with anything then we got away with it. . I could not. I am cancerous."

Matayoshi, Almira

(Born on Bikini) , speaking Marshallese: - "We were so happy when we could still live together as a whole family. For these days we spread because of these terrible, horrible things happened with us. "